Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-06-10
A TURN IN love.
BY PRANK J. MARTIN.

BY PRANK J. MARTIN.
Vermont has within its borders
more quaint, interesting towns
than any other state in the Union.
Perhaps Jerseyville is the oldest,
quaintest, and most lifeless one OF
the whole lot. The inhabitants
number about two hundred, round
figures. The mail arrives and de-
parts twice a week, and a brass
windy band dlscOurses patriotic
music, such as "Yankee Dude'l'
do,o etc, in front of the town hall,
every fourth of July. A meet
in'-house stands in the center VI
town, flanked on all sides by the
principal business houses, to-wit;
A tavern, a general store, hotel,
and a blacksmlth's shop.
The Rev. T. =. Jones, the pastor
of the flock, while attending to the
spiritual wants of the people, also
dispensed legal food as Justice OF
the Peace, and devoted the balance
of his time in presiding over Uncle
Sans mail pouch, behind a little
desk in the "general store" AS a
pastor he was universally liked,
but as a Justice of the Peace he
} was barely tolerated, while he was
despised entirely when he took up
his position behind the letter boxes.
There were always on hand a half
dozen villagers who were eternally
looking for letter "from the folks
ont Vest They called regularly,
but the letters never came, and the
indignant villagers learned to dis
like the postmaster as though 1t
we're his fault.
Next to the Rev. Jones in point
of prominence came Walter Winter,
a rich young farmer who lived with
his aged mother just outside the
VILLAGE. Walter had received fair
education, and this fact made him
very important parsonage in the
village. He was a generous young
man, and, like all other good young
men, he had a peculiar fault. He
was fickle and inconstant in love.
He had already kept steady CON-
pany with several young ladies and
had given them "the mitten," as
the country lad would say. AT
this date he was "engaged," as
usual, to the pretty daughter of a
rich neighbor, who secretly avowed
that if Walter went back on his
word this time che would make it
exceedingly uncomfortable for him."
Annie Rose, the object of Wal
ter's alteration, was a prepossessing
blonde of nineteen summers. She
had received good education, was
an apt player on the organ (no pi-
amos in that town., and had read a
| few books. Besides this, she was
an only child, and, of course, would
I in the course of time inherit her
fathers vast estate. Every young
lad in the whole section was dead
in love with her. When it became
known that Walter Winter had
asked for and received her hand
many we're the insinuations made
by this same band of bold sultOrs.
One young swain even went so far
as to bet a cigar with the clergy
man, alias justice of the peace, that
the couple would never get married.
Now, cigars we're very rare lux
ury in Jerseyville, and this bet
created universal comment. Some
one was going to smoke at some
body else's expense, and that was
something strange-in Jersevville'
So things went along in the usual
way until along in July. Walter
still renamed very attentive to
Annie, and the wise heads began
to count on an early marriage
Harvest time came and Walter
needed an extra hand on the farm
lie had not long to wait, tor one
morning a stranger appeared al
bis door and asked for work.
Walter took the young man into
his house, questioned him, and
then set him to work.
The yeung man worked hard
while in the field, and Walter wa'
not long in finding IN him a valua
bic assistant. He gave his name
as Jerry Black claimed to be al
orphan, and to be we'll educated
He made a decided impression OF
the villagers and soon his society
was in great demand. To all thei
attentions be was Indifferent. HI
at last was forced to enter society
and, to the surprise Of all, showed
a decided preference for Annie
Rose. That young miss was lndif
ferent at first, but soon began t,
show unmistakable signs of a liyel.
interest in Jerry. This puzzled tn
village while it set Walter to think
ing.
Jerseyville was treated to NOR
than one surprise that year. 4
robbery was committed one nigh
early in August. Now a rObber
J was not a wonderful thing any
where else In the broad world saw
in that sleepy, hospital town.
A farmers house had been brC
: I.or into and snma fifLv odd dollar